Randhir’s team too withdraws from IOA polls

Abhey Singh Chautala and his team are expected to face no opposition when they go to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) polls on December 5, as the other members of Randhir Singh's team withdrew their nomination on Monday.

A day after Randhir withdrew his candidature — he was contesting for the president’s post, his team members followed suit, paving way for the rival group to be elected unopposed.

JS Gehlot (chief of the Kabaddi Federation of India), Mukesh Kumar (secretary general, Judo Federation of India), Raninder Singh (president, National Rifle Association of India) and Sunaina Kumari, a key official of the Lawn Bowls Federation of India, were among the prominent names who pulled out of the apex body’s polls. Randhir withdrew on Sunday, citing the International Olympic Committee’s warning to disaffiliate India if the polls are held under the government’s Sports Code.

Tytler CriticisesMeanwhile, Judo Federation of India chief, Jagdish Tytler, criticised the wrangling between the two factions in the buildup to the polls, saying top sports administrators, contesting for the various posts, were well versed with the Olympic Charter and IOA’s constitution, but hardly made an effort to prevent the ugly showdown with the government that has been laying an emphasis on the Sports Code.

“I didn’t see any effort by responsible officials to put things in order,” he said.